If there is one thing New Albany is known for in the fall season, more so than the bright white picket fences illuminating against the backdrop of the lush fall foliage, it might just be the New Albany Walking Classic.
Now in its tenth year, the Walking Classic has become a New Albany staple, its popularity only increasing year after year. As evidenced by its far-reaching appeal – just 25 percent of participants are from New Albany – the Walk, as it’s informally known, is one of the most lauded walking-only events in the country, not to mention the largest.
Its staying power can be attributed to the people who participate.
“The New Albany Walking Classic is a terrific local community event that appeals to a wide variety of fitness levels,” says Zoe Guirlinger, a participant and the CEO of New Albany gym Ultimate U.
With ages ranging from 3 to 96 years old, the field at each Walk boasts an impressive level of diversity. And each of the 3,500 walkers this year brings with him or her a unique set of personal motivations.
Happy Feet
Happy Feet is the team sponsored by Ultimate U, which is a longtime supporter of and contributor to the Walk.
“We first learned of the Walking Classic when (event founder and race director) Phil Heit approached us about sponsoring the event during its inaugural year,” says Guirlinger. “Whether
forming teams, volunteering at the expo or event, or increasing awareness of it in the community, we have been supporters of the event ever since.”
Guirlinger’s gym has been a stalwart proponent of the Walking Classic, sending a team every single year of the Walk’s existence.
Krista Heisler, a trainer at Ultimate U, heads up her own walking group for gym members.
“We have a lot of fun together and enjoy working towards the shared goal of participating in the Walking Classic,” Heisler says. “Of course. everyone cares about health, but the thing that gets us out there walking each week is the chance to connect and share a laugh. I think I speak for everyone in the group when I say it’s been a real boost to our happiness.”
Hence the group’s name.
The group consists of members of the community and the gym, as well as residents from elsewhere in central Ohio who showed interest in training for the event.
Another major motivating factor behind Ultimate U’s consistent participation: its internalized business model of being determined to accomplish anything.
“The New Albany Walking Classic is a natural match for our team approach and goal-oriented philosophy,” says Guirlinger.
That determination has become infectious, Guirlinger says, as Ultimate U has attracted people of all experience levels and ages.
“Ultimate U team members encompass a wide variety of fitness levels, from beginners to experienced athletes. While the majority of Ultimate U team members have been experienced, non-competitive walkers, many were not when they initially joined Ultimate U,” she says. “We love helping folks make physical ‘comebacks’ and experience the joy of participating in events like the Walking Classic. We also have highly experienced competitive athletes on our team. Stephanie Ladson-Wofford is a terrific example of an Ultimate U team member who is a very experienced competitive walker who competes in several races a year.”
Susan Randall
A lot of walkers race to have fun, but a good number, including Susan Randall, race to win.
Randall, who has raced in almost every Walking Classic since its inaugural year, has won a whopping five first-place medals in the women’s category of the 10K event.
In 2005, Randall, a Beavercreek resident, decided to start race walking, and since then, she has been an absolute powerhouse.
“I train on the local bike paths, and I train about 50 to 60 miles a week,” she says.
Continuous pursuit of her love of race walking spurs Randall on each year, and there’s evidence that her strict training regimen and dedicated philosophy have paid off: She’s excelled so dramatically that she’s going Olympic.
“I finished 11th in the 2008 Olympic Trials and seventh in the 2012 Olympic trials,” she says.
This year, she represented the U.S. at the World Race Walking Cup, organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It took place May 3 and 4 in Taicang, China – a location meaningful to Randall, who was born in that country.
“I hope to finish top third at the 2016 Olympic trials and represent the U.S.A. at the Olympics,” she says.
Randall participates in many events a year, but the Classic stands out to her because of its environment of support is.
“The atmosphere is very friendly and inviting to everyone,” she says.” The crowd cheers just as hard for the last few as they did for the first few.”
Linda Romanoff
When Linda Romanoff joined the New Albany Walking Club – the group whose popularity eventually led to the organization of the Walking Classic – a decade ago, she only walked on Sunday mornings.
“It was a good reason to get up early on Sunday morning, get some fresh air and exercise along the way,” Romanoff says. “It also served as a great way to meet people, since I was new in the area when I began walking with the group.”
Race walking, which had just started out as an idea, has become a huge part of Romanoff’s life.
“Ten years ago I had just moved to the area and saw a sign for a (New Albany Chamber of Commerce) event. While walking around the event, I saw a display that advertised the Walking Classic. I spoke to Phil Heit about the event and how the Walking Club would meet each Sunday to walk, and I was hooked,” she says. “I have been participating in both the weekly walks and the (Walking) Classic ever since.”
She has been so involved in race walking that now she engages in many events each year, improving and learning along the way.
“This will be my 10th New Albany Walking Classic this year,” she says. “Initially, I only participated in two races a year, the Walking Classic (10K event) and the Columbus Marathon (half marathon). As I began to train more often, I began to go to other races in the area ranging from 5Ks, 10Ks and 15Ks to half marathons and relay events. Each year, I am trying to add a new event that I have not done in the past.”
Romanoff has such a passion for the Walking Classic that she now plays an organizational role each year.
“After several years, I began to help out at events sponsored by the Walking Club, and have been a member of the Classic Committee for the last five years,” says Romanoff. “As a result of my involvement, I am now a working with Karen Edwards, coordinating the events at the Expo for the Walking Classic each year.”
When it comes to training, group-based motivation gives Romanoff a major boost.
“You know that someone is counting on you to be there,” she says. “I look forward to walking each week and feel better when I am done. As a result of my walking more frequently, I have also improved my speed.”
Priscilla Knaus
While many participants see the Walk as a reason to stay in shape, Priscilla Knaus used it as a lifeline, a passion to cling to when her life hit a tragic speed bump.
“In 1999, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” Knaus says. “During chemo, I realized that I needed to move and exercise. It is hard when you can’t do something; you become more determined to do it. I started walking, first by myself and eventually with the New Albany Walking Club.”
Her participation helped her develop a new appreciation for walking, and along the way, she met other cancer survivors, friends who eventually became training partners when she began to compete in the Walking Classic.
Even more than friends and health, Knaus’s biggest driver is the hard realization about how fleeting life can be.
“I do it because I can. I was in an ovarian cancer support group for a while and many of my friends who were in it are gone,” she says. “In 2007, I lost my mother to dementia and my father to a stroke. She was from a generation that did not walk or exercise. This gives me incentive to keep moving and stay active.”
And while the recently retired medical technologist for Mount Carmel Health has been through a lot, she continues to persevere and take part in multiple events a year, citing the joy and the pleasure she gets from each one of the events.
“I have done the (Walking) Classic eight times,” she says. “When you do a race, you develop a camaraderie, you urge each other on. It is well run, and no matter when you finish, there is plenty of food left for everyone. Everyone is treated with respect.”
Karen Edwards
After almost 10 years in New Albany, Karen Edwards was drawn to the Walking Classic due to a family tragedy.
“There used to be a store in New Albany called Out of the Ordinary, and after I moved to New Albany, I walked in there one day and saw an advertisement for the (Walking) Classic. I was already a walker and I knew I had to participate in this event,” says Edwards. “That was the summer of 2005, and my mother had just died. This event gave me something different to look forward to, and it helped to redirect my focus.”
This focus helped her readjust to life and deal with the
aftermath of the tragedy in a constructive way. And along the way, Edwards was also dealt a great hand of support, specifically from the Walking Club, whose members pushed her and improved her.
Eventually, after embracing her love for all things race walking, she became an integral piece of the Walking Classic puzzle.
“I joined the New Albany Walking Club in 2006 after having done the first New Albany Walking Classic,” she says. “I have done the (Walking) Classic every year since it began, I currently sit on the … race board and my role for the last six years has been the volunteer coordinator for the Health Expo.”
Among Edwards’ annual endeavors are 5Ks, 10Ks and half-marathons – some local, some as decidedly non-local as Canada and the Grand Cayman Islands.
“My friend Liz and I are currently on a quest to do a race in every state,” Edwards says. “I just went to Fargo, North Dakota in May to complete their half marathon and it was my 22nd state. We are planning a racing trip to New Hampshire in the fall. Three years ago, I did the whole marathon on the Great Wall of China, walking 26.2 miles while also completing 5,134 steps on the wall.”
New Albany Resident David Allen is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
